EDITOR'S CHOICE

February festivities spotlight everything from African-American History Month to Valentine's Day.

In theater: Shakespeare Repertory Theater (312/642-2273) presents "Henry V" Feb. 1 to March 15, returning to the play with which director Barbara Gaines launched the company in 1986. Northlight Theatre (847/673-6300) mounts the Chicago premiere of Tennessee Williams' "A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur" Feb. 11 to March 8. Set in 1930s St. Louis, it looks at the lives of four women, played by Kate Buddeke, Renee Matthews, Carmen Roman and Karen Vacarro. The meeting of three sisters on the occasion of their mother's death is the focus of Shelagh Stephenson's "The Memory of Water" at Steppenwolf Theatre Company (312/335-1650) Feb. 15 to March 29, featuring Artistic Director/actress Martha Lavey.

Science fiction invades the stage at Next Theatre Company (847/475-6363), where Steve Pickering and Charley Sherman's adaptation of William Gibson's story "Burning Chrome" -- about two small-time data thieves undertaking a suicidal heist -- runs Feb. 9 to March 7. Stage Left Theatre (773/883-8830) ventures into similar territory Feb. 24 to April 5 with a drama based on Philip K. Dick's novel "Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said," about a TV star who awakes one day to find his identity has been erased.

Pegasus Players (773/878-9761) pays tribute to African-American History Month Feb. 24 to April 5 with the world premiere of Robert Myers' "Dead of Night: The Execution of Fred Hampton."

In music: "The 38th Annual University of Chicago Folk Festival" (773/702-9793) Feb. 6 to 8 spotlights such bands as the Treme Brass Band from New Orleans, Sones de Mexico and the Chicago Klezmer Ensemble. Sensational Israeli percussionist Chen Zimbalista uses his hands and feet to play 40 instruments at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts (847/673-6700) Feb. 21. The Old Town School of Folk Music (773/525-7793) brings guitarist Jose Feliciano to the Congress Theatre the same night. Ladysmith Black Mambazo lights up Governors State University's Center for Performing Arts (708/235-2222) Feb. 22.

On Valentine's Day, Governors State hosts the Coasters, the Drifters and the Platters, while the DePaul Jazz Ensemble (312/922-1999) with trumpeter Byron Stripling proves that "Jazz Is for Lovers." The Newberry Consort's (312/255-3700) countertenor Drew Minter and violinist David Douglass find romantic inspiration in "The Titural Fragments: A Medieval Tale of Love" Feb. 12 to 14.